Engine.



PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903. A. W. OFELDT.

ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAE. 3o, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 742,481. PATENTED OCT. 2'7, 1903.-

A. W. OPELDT.

ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 30. 1901. No MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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INVENTDR )LMO/MUM ATTORNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES I latented October 27, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST W. oEELDr, oE NEWARK, NEw JERSEY, AssieNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To MAX PELUG, oE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N. 742,481, dated october 27, 190e.

Application led March 30, 1901. Serial No. 53,691. (No model.)

consists in the novel construction of the engine. 'v

rIhe objects of my invention are to improve and simplify the construction of steam and other duid-pressure engines, and particularly of small high-speed compound engines, such as are used on steam -launches and automobiles, to render the same more compact, to

reduce the wear of the parts, and generally to make the engine as simple, compact, eiicient, and durable as possible. These objects are attained in the invention herein described, and illustrated in the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specifica? tion, in which- Figure 1 iS a central vertical section through the high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders of the engine, the view being taken on the Fig. 2`

irregular section-line X X of Fig. 2. is a horizontal section of the engine through the center line of the high-pressure cylinders; Fig. 8 is a detail cross-section of one of the low-pressure cylinders, showing the exhaustport thereof. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the engine with the valve-chest cover sectioned. Fig. 5 is a section of the engine along the center line of the low-pressure cylinders. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the clamping device employed for holding together the sections of the locking-ring, and Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the swivel-head on the end of the operating-shaft.

In this engine there are two high-pressure cylinders and two low-pressure cylinders, arranged in the form of a cross, with like cylinders opposite each other. In each cylinder there is a piston, and the connecting-rods of these pistons are connected to the same crank- The engine is provided with a valvepin.

chamber adjacent to the' cylinders, which contains the valves of the engine and an eccentric for operating them and likewise serves as a receiver-chamber. The high-pressure valves are piston-valves, and the high-pressure steam-chests are formed in the cover of the valve-chamber.

nate crank-arms, and S a crank-pin. The en f gine-casing is provided with a circular boss or projectionv 9, within which the crank-arm 6 revolves, and said boss is provided with a stuffing-box 10, surrounding the shaft 5.

Numerals 11 11 designate the high-pressure connecting-rods and numerals 12 12 the lowpressure connectingrods. The pistons are trunk-pistons, the connecting-rods being connectedto their several pistons by pivot-pins 13. The boresof the pistons in which these pivot pins are located register with the grooves which receive the piston-rings 14, and the pivot-pins are held in place within their boresby set-screws. The connecting-rods are provided at their inner ends with laterallyprojecting bosses, which are embraced by the two-part locking-ring 15. Each of these bosses embraces a small portion only of the circumference of the crank-pin 8; but this is not obj ectionable, since the cylinders are all singleacting, and thereforethe thrust of the connecting-rods against the crank-pin is always in one direction. The ring 15 merely holds the ends of the connecting -rods in proper position.

16 is a valve-chamber and receiver-space, and 17 is a cover therefor arranged to be bolted tothe cylinder casting. In the cover 17 are cylindrical high-pressure steam-chests 18 and also guide-cylinders 19 for the cross-heads of the high-pressure valves. Eachhigh-pres- Sure valve comprises double or balancedvalvepistons 20, working within their steam-chests 1S, a guiding-head or cross-head 21, working within its guide-cylinder 19, a stem 22, connecting these parts, and a lug 23, carrying a 'IDO pin 24, working in the groove of a grooved eccentric 25 and provided with a friction-roll. These friction-rollers have a slight clearance in the groove of the eccentric 25.

The low-pressure valves are designated by numerals 2o'. They are D-valves working on valve -seats formed on the cylindercasting and driven from the grooved eccentric 25 in the same manner as the high-pressure valves. Stop-pins 27, bearinglightly against the backs of these valves, are provided to prevent them from lifting off from their seats when the engine is not under steam. The lowpressure valves are guided by contact with the sides of the pockets in the cover 17, in which they work. This is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which figure one of the low-pressure valves is shown in position in its pocket.

Steam is admitted to the high pressure steam-chest 13 by means of pipes 28. Ports 29, adapted to be closed by the valve-pistons 20, serve each to convey live steam to its high-pressure cylinder when the corresponding valve is in one position and to convey exhaust-steam from such cylinder to the main portion of the valve chamber 1G when said valve is in the opposite position. The outer end of each stcaln-chest 13 is connected with the receiver-space 1G by a small passage, so that steam leaking past the valve may not collect and condense in the end of the steamchest.

Numerals 30 designate ports connecting the low-pressure cylinders and the receiverchamber 16.

Numerals 31 designate exhaust-ports covered by the low-pressure valves.

Each valve 2G is adapted alternately to permit steam from the receiver space to enter its cylinder 3 and t0 permit exhaust from said cylinder to pass through ports 30 and 31 and thence from the engine. l

The crank-arm 7 is provided with a journal-boss 32, mounted in a stufng-box bearing in that Wall of the cylinder-casting which separates the crank-chamber from the receiver-space. This journal-boss is hollow and is adapted to receive a bushing 33, surrounding an operating-shaft 34. This bushing is, in fact, a nut, being provided with an internal screw-thread intermeshirig with a corresponding screw-thread on the shaft 31. Said shaft 31 passesthrough a stuiiing-box in the cover-plate 17 and is provided at its end with a swiveled head 35, adapted to be connected to any convenient operating device, such as a lever. The grooved eccentric 25 is mounted upon the shaft 3l and may overlap the journal-boss 32 of crank-arm 7, as shown, and is provided with a key 36, Fig. 5, working within a keyway 37, Fig. 2, of. shaft 31. Screw-bushing 33 is keyed within the boss of crank 7, but fits loosely upon the shaft 34. Therefore if shaft 34 be pulled outward or pushed inward by means of its swiveled head it will be caused to rotate with respect to the crank-shaft and in rotating will rotate the eccentric 25 with reference to the crank-shaft. By this means the engine may be reversed or the points of admission and cut-off to the several cylinders changed at will. Bushing 33 is in function a part of the boss 32 of crank-arm 7 and is formed separately therefrom for convenience only. These parts are formed most conveniently by turning the thread upon the operating-shaft 34, placing it in amold and casting the bushing 33 about it, said bushing being formed, preferably, of gun-metal or similar material, then hammering the bushing until it is loose upon the shaft 34, and finally turning it down to a drive lit with the socket in' crank 7. g

The method of holding together the sections of the locking-ring 15 is shown in Fig. G. The ends of the sections of this ring interlock, and through each pair of interlocking ends there is a bore adapted to receive a taper locking-pin 38, which screws into one section of the ring and is also provided with a lock-nut. By screwing up the pin 3S the sections of the ring 15 maybe drawn together as tightly as necessary. As will be seen in the drawings, the high-pressure cylinders are offset toward the valve-chamber relatively to the low-pressure cylinders. This makes it possible to provide connecting-rods with laterally-projecting lugs of sulieient length to permit the use of a locking-ring 15 of sufficient width to hold the connecting-rods firmly and yet enables the connecting-rods to be very nearly central in their cylinders.

The engine may be assembled readily through the opening in the casingof the crankchamber normally closed by the ange 39 of the stulling-box 10.

XVhile I have described my engine as a steam-engine, it is obvious that it may be used with other working uids, such as air or naphtha-gas.

l do not limit myself to the use of any particular number of cylinders or to the use of piston-Valves for the high-pressure cylinders or to the use .of Hat valves for the low-pressure cylinders.

The engine is capable of many modifications in construction and arrangement of the parts, and I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described.

Having thus completely described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-ease and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, separate from said crank-case; of a crank-shaft, Apistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber,

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means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

2. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, separate from said crank-case; of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and valve-operating means arranged to operate said valves and provided with means whereby the engine may be reversed.

3. Ina compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, separate from said crank-case; of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, hi gh-pres'sure and lowpressure valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and an eccentric driven by the crankshaft, arranged to operate said valves.

4c. In a compound engine, the combination,

with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space separate from said crank-case, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, an eccentric driven by said crank-shaft arranged to operate said valves, and means for shifting said eccentric with respect to said shaft.

5. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space separate from said crank-case, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and a grooved eccentric driven by said sh aft, said valves being provided with projections tting within said groove, whereby saidv Avalves may be operated by said eccentric.

6. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in diiferent angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space separate from said crank-case, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves withinsaid valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working Huid to the engine, a grooved eccentric driven by said shaft, said valves being provided with projections iittingwithin said groove, whereby said valve may be operated by said eccentric, and means for shifting said eccentric with reference to said shaft.

7 In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged vin different angular positions about a Common crank-shaft, and a crank-case and a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space separate from said crank-case, of pistons, connectingrods, high-pressure and low-pressure Valves within said valve-chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting working uid to the engine, a crank-shaft terminating at one end within the engine-casing, such end of the shaft being hollow, and being provided with a spiral thread, an operatin g-rod mounted in such hollow end and having a corresponding and intermeshing thread and an eccentric adapted to operate said Valves, and mounted upon said operating-rod and having a spined connection therewith, whereby longitudinal movement of said rod shifts the eccentric.

8. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, said casing including likewise a removable valvechamber cover inclosing a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and low-pressure valves, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure eX- haust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting'working iiuid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

9. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing having high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in dierent angular positions about a common crankshaft, and a valve-chamber cover secured to the cylinders and inclosing therewith a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, of high pressure and lowpressure valves, located within said chamber, the former arranged to pass the high-pressure exhaust into said chamber, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

l0. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing having high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in diderent angular positions about a common crankshaft, and a valve-chamber cover inclosing ICO IIC

with said cylinders a combined valve-chainber and receiver-space, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and lowpressure valves, the former of the piston type and mounted in the valve-chamber cover, means for admitting working fluid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

Il. In a compound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing having high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular posit-ions about a common crankshaft, and a removable valve-chamber cover inclosing with said cylinders a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space,of a crankshaft,pistons, connecting-rods, high-pressure and low-pressure valves, the formerarranged Y to pass the high-pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, and the latter being fiat valves, Working against the cylinder-face, and suitably guided, means for admitting Working fluid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

l2. In a compound engine, the combination, With an engine-casing having high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about acommon crankshaft, and a removable valve-chamber cover inclosing with said cylinders a combined valve -chamber and receiverspace, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, highpressure and low-pressure valves, the former arranged to pass the high pressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, and the latter being flat valves, working in and guided by pockets formed in the valve-chamber cover, means for admitting Working liuid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

13. In acompound engine, the combination, with an engine-casing having high -pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angularpositions about a common crankshaft, and a removable valve-chamber cover inclosing with said cylinders a combined valve-chamber and receiver-space, and having formed in it a high-pressure steam-chest and a pocket in which a low-pressure valve may work, of a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods, high pressure and low pressure valves, the former arranged to pass the highpressure exhaust into the said valve-chamber, means for admitting Working fluid to the engine, and means for operating said valves.

14. In a compound engine, the combination, with an enginecasing including high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, and a valve -chamber adjacent to said cylinders, the high-pressure cylinder being offset toward the valve-chamber, relativelyto the low-pressure cylin der, of a crankshaft, pistons, connecting-rods, adapted to be connected to a common crank-pin on said shaft, each of said connecting-rods being provided with a crank-pin-bearing surface which does not completely surround said pin, and being provided with a projecting lug adapted to receive a locking-ring by which the several connecting-rods may be secured to said crank-pin, the said lugs being located on the adjacent sides of the high-pressure and lowpressure connecting rods, and a sectional locking-ring, located between the high-pressure and low-pressure connecting-rods, and adapted to secure the connecting-rods to the crank-pin.

l5. In an engine, the combination, with cylinders arranged in different angular positions about a common crank-shaft, a crank-shaft, pistons, connecting-rods therefor adapted to be connected to a common crank-pin on said shaft, each of said connecting-rods being provided with a crank-pin-bearing surface Which does not completely surround said pin, and being provided also with a projecting lug adapted to receive a lockingring by which the several connecting-rods may be secured to said crank-pin, a sectional locking-ring, the sections of which are secured together at one end and at the other end are provided with interlockin g tongues and registering apertures, and a taper key parallel with the crank pin for holding said sections together.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST IV. OFELDT. IVitnesses:

HARRY M. MARBLE, A. H. PERLES. 

